Feb 28, 2008 5:41 pm US/Pacific
More Women Accuse Nursing Assistant Of Sex Assault
LOS ANGELES
A nationwide manhunt is on for a former certified nursing assistant accused of sexually assaulting sedated female patients right before or after surgery.
Police say the public's help is needed to find Ramon Eduardo Rodas Gaspar of Canoga Park, who has been accused of assaulting patients between the ages of 29 and 64 years old.
Gaspar was booked on June 15, 2006 on three felony sexual assault charges. As more victims came forward, seven more felony counts were filed against Gaspar, police said.
But Gaspar made bail and fled the area with his wife and young son, leaving behind two other children, family members and a home in Canoga Park.
"This crime is heinous because this is an individual who was given the public's trust," said Detective Ninette Toosby of the Los Angeles Police Department. "People who are ill who need to go to the hospital for surgery or any other reason are vulnerable, particularly if they are under the influence of any kind of medication or painkillers or anything from post-surgery."
Gaspar, who was born in Guatemala and is an American citizen, may be working as a masseuse or he may be working at a low-income women's medical clinic that may be unaware of his certification status. He has family in northern California and Colorado, and his wife has family living in Mexico.
"How dare you," a victim identified as Stacy said. "I was a patient in a hospital getting my gall bladder removed, and I trusted the people that came into my room, and he took advantage of that, and I want him brought to justice."
Anyone with information about Gaspar can contact West Valley Detectives at (818) 374-7730 or (877) LAW-FULL.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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